Airport Rail Link to Improve Marketing Strategy

The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link has improved their check-in services at Makkasan Station to attract more users.

A marketing research team has identified that the Airport Rail Link, or ARL, is facing a decline in the number of users of their check-in services at Makkasan Station, as it currently stands at 20 users per day.

During May, the ARL started operating their Express Line train service from the Phayathai to Suvarnabhumi station to facilitate the BTS skytrain users.

This increased the wait time for people going from Makkasan station to Suvarnabhumi station, as two out of the four trains have been moved to operate on the Phayathai to Suvarnabhumi line instead.

As for the check-in services at Makkasan Station, initial regulations required that users check their luggage at least three hours prior to their scheduled flight time.

The ARL has shortened the required time to persuade more travelers to check luggage at the station.

The research team said that passengers expressed satisfaction with ARL's service, especially for the city line, which sees a large number of commuters on weekdays.

They said ARL service is cheaper than taxis.

However, they admit that it is better to drive to the airport on Sundays when there is no traffic.

ARL said they are satisfied with the current number of passengers, which is at 1,600 commuters per day, an increase from the initial 400 commuters per day who were traveling when it first opened.

They said they are currently offering a special promotion of 90 baht for one-way ticket, and 150-baht round trip, which can both be used within 14 days.

Moreover, ARL is seeking the cooperation of tour operators in bringing their tour groups to the check-in counter at Makkasan Station.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-11

The ARL has shortened the required time to persuade more travelers to check luggage at the station.

WHAT have they shortened it to?

During May, the ARL started operating their Express Line train service from the Phayathai to Suvarnabhumi station to facilitate the BTS skytrain users.

This increased the wait time for people going from Makkasan station to Suvarnabhumi station, as two out of the four trains have been moved to operate on the Phayathai to Suvarnabhumi line instead.

Do they plan to fix this?

The only solution should be to cancel the Express link and operate the City Line on a frequency of about 3-5 minutes.

As a frequent user of the express, both from Payathai and Makkasan, I would prefer that the Payathai and Makkasan express trains were joined, so they leave every 20 minutes from Payathai and stop at Makkasan, than to leave each of these stops exclusively only every 40 minutes. It is so frustrating to arrive at either station, to find the train has just left and you need to wait a whole 40 minutes, and could result in missing a flight.

The only solution should be to cancel the Express link and operate the City Line on a frequency of about 3-5 minutes.

Yes.

Or, a 'first class' style carriage could be included with guaranteed seating, if they want to retain a premium service with in-town check in. Cargo space for any luggage checked in at Makkasan can also be included in some trains.

I wonder why this is so hard; SRT has operated multiple classes in the same train since the dawn of time.. Why run completely separate trains for a very marginal time saving?

Edited July 11, 201114 yr by WinnieTheKhwai

The only solution should be to cancel the Express link and operate the City Line on a frequency of about 3-5 minutes.

Agreed. I use the City Line everyday and it is certainly the exception rather than the rule when there is anymore than a handful of people on the express train. Meanwhile the City Line is rammed during the rush hours and used by many throughout the day. They should add the Express train cars to the City line trains and increase the frequency.